A HAPLESS burglar who broke into a pawn shop took a number of mobile phones and a satnav which were all faulty and totally worthless.

Blackburn magistrates heard to add insult to injury Michael David Dwyer was stopped as he drove away from the scene and ultimately got banned from driving when he failed to provide a specimen.

Dwyer, 39, of Beddington Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to burglary at Money Generator, Colne, and theft of a satnav and mobile phones. He was jailed for 26 weeks and ordered to pay £410 compensation.

aul Sumner, prosecuting, said a member of the public reported the burglary at 1.45 am. A window next to the front door had been smashed and an untidy search carried out. Dwyer was stopped nearby and a satnav and a number of mobile phones were found in his car.

“The following day the manager identified these as having been in the shop,” said Mr Sumner. “All the items were faulty and had zero monetary value. In breaking into the shop he caused £410-worth of damage.”

Mark Williams, defending, said the offence went back to December 2020.

“He was charged with failing to provide a sample and put before the court but not charged with the burglary at that stage,” said Mr Williams.

He said that since then his client had received six custodial sentences and had spent most of the 18-month period in custody.

“He is still serving one of those sentences and is due to be released in about five weeks,” said Mr Williams. “His record is appalling and he would be the first to accept that.”